Photographic-printing machine.



T. E. HALLDORSON.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLEo xuLY|5,1915.

1 ,228,91 2. Paf/med June 5, 1917.

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T. E. HALLDORSON.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, 1915.

Patented June 5, 1917.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, 1915.

Patnted June 5, 19W.

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THOMAS E. HALLDORSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 15, 1915. Serial No. 40,023.

To all 't0/tom 't may concern.'

Be it known that I, TrioMAs E. HALL- nonsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention 'relates to photographic printing machines, and-particularly to such machines adapted to be used for enlarging purposes.

@ne of the objects of the invention is to produce a machine by means of which both contact printing and projection printing may be carried out conveniently and Yrapidly, and the operator may pass from one process te the other by a simple manipulation of the machine. The machine is particularly adapted' to cases where both contact and projecting printing are required on the same sensitized sheets.

A further object Of the invention is to produce a machine for the above mentioned purposes which may be cheaply manufactured and which occupies a much smaller space than is usually occupied by the two machines commonly used for contact printingand for projection printing.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the following description and the drawings attached hereto.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine which embodies the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal and vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmental section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. l is a sectional view of a portion of the operating mechanism of the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the printing portion of the machine. Fig. G is a cross section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 showing by dotted lines the platen and printing plate of the machine in their elevated positions. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric.circuitsused in the machine. Fig. 8 is a reduced plan view of the printing table with a guide or mask and a sheet of sensitized paper thereon.

The machine comprises a frame 10 supporting a projection mechanism 11 and a printing mechanism 1,12. The `projection mechanlsincomprises a casing 13 inclosing a projection apparatus lllz The projection apparatus may be of any suitable forni; in this instance I prefer a casing 15 inclosing a slidably mounted electric light-16, condensing lenses 17, and projection or focusing lenses of any suitable nature inclosed in the casing 18. The casing 18 is mounted in a slidable support 19. Guides 20 are provided for holding the frame 21 of the negative 22 an image of which is to be projected upon a ground glass on the printing plate 23, by means of the inclined mirror 2l, in the manner hereinafter described.

rThe projection apparatus is mounted upon rollers which run on a track 2G so that the apparatus may be moved longitudinally in the casing. An endless chain 27 is supported, parallel with the track 2G, by means of an idle roller 2S and a sprocket wheel 29. The wheel 29 is fixed to a tube 30 which is rotatably mounted in the frame 10, and extends outwardly therefrom, and may be rotated by means of the hand wheel 31. The chain 27 is operatively connected to the projecting casing by means of a hook 32 of the bracket 33 lined to the frame 3a of the projection apparatus. InA order to vary the lo-ngitudinal position of the projection apparatus it is necessary only for the operator to rotate wheel 31; this will cause the chain 27 to be operated, and this in turn moves, to the desired position, the projection apparatus by means of hook 32.

In order to properly focus the image on the printing plate, the following mechanism is provided: Threaded into the support 19 of the lens casing 18 is a screwrod which is rotatably mounted in the casing 15. At the forward end of the rod is fixed a pinion 3G which meshes with a pinion 37, which in tuin meshes with a pinion 38, The pinion 3S is non-rotatably, but slidably,l mounted on the square rod 39, which is rotatably mounted in the casing 13 extending the full length thereon and parallel with thetrack 26. By means of the gear wheels the rod 39 is operatively connected with the rod l2 rotatably mount-` ed in the framework of the machine. Rod 4112 passes through the tube 30, extends outwardly, and has on its outer end a crank 43 by means of which the rod may be operated. It is evident that by rotating the rod 1-2 by means of the crank 43 the square rod 39 will be rotated, and this in turn will cause rotation of the screw 35 and Patented J une 5, 1917. j

thus more the focusing lens forward or backward, as may be desired, in order to properly focus the image of the negative on ground glass on the printing plate 23.

The light 16 is mounted in a casing 45 which is slidably mounted in the casing 15 so that the light may be moved relative to the co-ndensing lenses 13 according tothe particular needs. This light is operated by means of an electric circuit shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7 and hereinafter more particularly described.

rIhe printing mechanism of the machine comprises a casing 46 fixed in the frame 16 and joined to the casing 13; it being understood that both of these casings and the lines of connection thereof, are so arranged that no objectionable light can enter and fall 'upon the sensitized printing sheets from outside the machine. The upper portion of the casing 46 and the frame 10 supports the frame 47 of the transparent printing plate 28 and lthus forms. the printing table. Above the plate 23 is a hinged cover or platen 48 upon the lower surface of which are sheets of felt 49 which hold the sensitized paper to be printed rmly against the negative or the plate. In the lower portion of the casing 46 is a reflector pan 50 fixed to a block 51 which is hinged at the point 52 to the frame. Springs 53 normally hold the reflector 50 in the operating position indicated by Fig. 1.

lVhen the machine is employed to print by contact of the negative with the sensitized sheet the negative and sheet are placed in contact on the plate 23 and are held firmly together by means of the platen 48, which is hereinafter more particularly described. The electric lights 55 are operated, as the platen 48 is pressed down, by means of the switch 56 (F ig. 7) in the casing 57. A. pin 58 projects upwardly from the casing 57, and, as the cover is pressed downwardly, this pin is forced inwardly by the adjustable pin 59 in the bracket 60, which is fixed to the edge of the platen, and the switch is thus closed to operate the lamp. When the cover is raised the switch automatically opens the circuit to the lamps. The ruby lamp 61 is mounted between the other lamps for illuminating purposes when it is not desired to print or to affect the sensitized paper.

W'hen the contact printing mechanism is in use, the mirror 24 is vertical in the position shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to print by projection of the light, for the purpose of enlarging or reducing, or otherwise, the pan 50, carrying with it the lamps 55 and 61, is pressed downwardly, and the mirror 24 is rotated and elevated to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2. Guides 66 allow the lower end of the mirror to be moved vertically, and to be rotated as de` sired. A. hook 68 holds the mirror frame in the Vertical position, and a hook 69 holds it in its inclined position.

lvhen in use the mirror 65 is at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal, so that light passing from the projection apparatus strikes this mirror and is reflected upwardly to the plate 28. this means it will be seen that a negative 22 placed in the frame 21 will cause an image thereof to be projected upon the plate 23, or upon a suitable ground glass plate resting on plate 28, when the projection apparatus is properly adjusted.

In operating the projection printing mechanism, the operator, with the mirror 653 in position and the platen raised., places, on the plate 23, a suitable ground glass upon which the image of the negative 22 may be focused. Then, while standing in position to observe the focusing process, he reaches to the operating wheel 31, and mores the projection apparatus longitudinally to the position necessary in order to obtain an image on the ground glass of the size desired. The operator then closes the circuit to the lamp 16 by throwing to the right the double throw switch 71 and by pressing downward the switch pin 58; then by means of the crank 43 he focuses the image upon the ground glass. vWhen the size of the image and the focusing are satisfactory, the switch pin 58 is released and the ground glass is replaced by the sensitized paper which is to receive the print. The platen 48 is then forced downwardly upon the paper, and the switch 56 is thus again closed, operating lamp 16, and the desired printing is produced.

For operating the various lamps, the electric circuits indicated in Fig. 7 are provided. A consideration of this diagram will show that, when the leads 70 are connected to a source of electric current supply, the ruby lamp 61 at all times will be operated without any reference to the switches 71 and 56; so that at all times the red light may be used for illuminating purposes, it being understood that, ordinarily, the various printing processes are carried out in a darkened room. Then the double throw switch 71 is thrown to the left, Fig. 2, lamps 55 will be thrown in circuit and will be operated whenever the switch 56 is closed. Then the switch 71 is thrown to the right, lamp 16 will be in circuit and will be operated when switch 56 is closed. The arrangement is such that switch 56 is closed at all times when the platen 48 is down, as shown in full lines in Fig. 6; and when the platen is raised, by pressing downwardly upon pin 58 the switch 56 may be closed whenever desired.

The platen is composed of two members, a rear member 72 and a forward member 73.

lli

These members are hinged together at their adjacent edges and hinged to the frame l0 by mea-ns of strips 74; and the adjacent edges of the members are beveled as indicated by Fig. 6, so as to prevent bending of the platen when it is pressed downwardly upon the printing plate. rIhe handle 75, fixed to the member 72, assists the operator in operating the platen, and the catch 76 holds the platen firmly downwardly in place, a spring 77 taking up the slack. Springs 78 and 7 8a tend to raise the platen and to hold it in elevated position. The frame 47, which supports the printing plate 23, is hinged, atvthe points 79, to the frame l0; and when desired the printing table Ll7-23 can be raised to-the position shown in Fig. G, and is then held in position by the links 80.

For vignetting purposes the 'following mechanism is provided. A fixedsupport 81 is suitably mounted in the rear of the casing ,46, immediately below the frame 47. A support 82 is rotatably mounted in the forward portion of the casing by means of arms 88, pivotcd at the points 84 to 4the frame l0. rIhe support 82 is operated by means of a link 85 connecting the support with a lever 86 pivoted `at the point 87 to the frame 10. The forward end 88 of the lever 86 projects outwardly through the frame 10 and is heldk in adjusted positions by means of the notches 89 in the casing 4:6. By placing a plate of ground glass upon the supports 8l and 82,V

when the end 88 of the leveris raised the glass will be parallel with and adjacent the plate 23; but by lowering the end 88vof the lever the forward1 endof the glass will be lowered, and the distance between the ground glass and the plate 23 may be regulated by the position of the lever 86.- So that, when vignetti'ng is to be produced, the vignette is placed upon the'ground glass and the amount of shadingof they printwis adjusted by the position of this glass with'rcference to plate 23.

A clamp 90, Xed to the frame 47 of the printing plate 23, enables the operator to.

clamp masks or designs or sensitized sheets to the printing plate table; and if it is desired to vary the position of the image with reference to the sensitized sheet it is necessary only to use a guide 91 and clamp the guide to the table in the proper position with reference to the image, and then place the sensitized sheets properly on the guide. For instance, it is sometimes found that the image is not symmetrical with reference to the negative, and in order to make the print symmetrical with reference to the sensitized sheet it is necessary to rotate the sheet more or less with reference to the table, as indicated in Fig. 8; and, by previously determining the proper position of the guide 91 with reference to the image focused on the ground glass, the sensitized sheet 92, when properly placed with relation to the guide, will receive the image symmetrically. Y

It will thus be seen that I have provided by this invention mechanism for carrying out, in a very simple and convenient manner, all the ordinary processes of contact printing and projection printing including vignetting and truing up the pictures.

It is frequentlydesirable to combine the contact printing and the projection printing in one process. For instance, a border is sometimes desired around the picture. In such a case the border may be produced by contact printing in the usual manner by the use of properly shaped masks or otherwise; and then without changing the sheet from one machine to the other, as is usually necessary, the operator, without changing his position merely leaves the sheet which has received the border print clamped on the printing table, replaces the mask used by another, and brings into proper position the inclined mirror of the projection mechanism;

and the picture then may be projected upon the sensitized sheet in the proper position. Or if two images are desired on the same sheet, one by contact and the other by projection, the sheet may be held clamped in position during the entire process; when the contact printing is finished the negative may be replaced by a transparent glass of equal thickness so as not interfere in any way with the position of the sensitized sheet, suitable masks of course being used if necessary. In eithery of these cases, it is evident that the projected portion of the picture may be enlarged or reduced as desired.

Although I have herein illustrated and described with considerable particularity the details of the machine which I use, in this instance, to illustrate my invention, yet it is to be understood that various modifications therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as disclosed by the following claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. A photographic machine comprising a projecting apparatus mounted for horizontal longitudinal movement; means for suitably holding a sensitized paper in front of said apparatus; an endless chain operatively mounted parallel with said apparatus and operatively connected therewith; a rod 'i rotatably mounted adjacent said apparatus and parallel therewith; a wheel slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said rod and being operatively connected with the focusing mechanism of said projection apparatus; means adjacent said first mentioned means for operating said chain, and means for rotating said rod.

2. A photographic machine comprising a projecting apparatus mounted for horizon- Cri tal longitudinal movement; means for suitably holding a sensitized paper in front of said apparatus; an endless chain operatively mounted parallel with said apparatus and operatively connected therewith; a square rod rotatably mounted adjacent said apparatus and parallel therewith; a wheel slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said rod and being operatively connected with the focusing mechanism of said projection apparatus; and means adjacent said iirst mentioned means for operating said chain and for rotating said rod.

3. An article of manufacture comprising an optical projecting apparatus horizontally mounted; a mirror removably mounted at substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal in the path of light of said apparatus; a .plate horizontally mounted above said mirror; and a source of light below said mirror.

4l. An article of manufacture comprising an optical projecting apparatus horizontally mounted; removable means for throwing upwardly a beam of light from said apparatus; a plate horizontally mounted above said means; a source of light below said means; and means for holding a sensitized paper on said plate.

5. An article of manufacture comprising an optical projecting apparatus horizontally mounted; a mirror removably mounted at substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal in the path of light of said apparatus; a plate horizontally mounted above said mirror; a source of light below said mirror; means for holding a sensitized paper on said plate; and means for sliding said apparatus horizontally.

6. An article of manufacture comprising an optical projecting apparatus horizontally mounted; a mirror removably mounted at substantially l5 degrees to the horizontal in the path of light of said apparatus; a plate horizontally mounted above said mirror; a source of light below said mirror; means for holding a sensitized paper on said plate; means adjacent said plate for sliding horizontally said apparatus, and means adjacent said plate for focusing said apparatus.

7. The combination of an optical projection apparatus; a horizontal plate in front 0f said apparatus; removable means for throwing the light from said apparatus upwardly onto said plate; and a source of light below said means.

8. The combination of an optical projection apparatus; a horizontal plate in front of and above said apparatus; removable means below said plate for casting light from said apparatus onto said plate; an electric light included in said apparatus; an electric light below said means; an electric circuit; and a switch for operatively connecting alternately said lights in said circuit.

9. The combination of an optical projection apparatus; a horizontal plate in front of and above said apparatus; removable means below said plate for casting light from said apparatus onto said plate; an electric light included in said apparatus; an electric light below said means; an electric circuit; a switch for operatively connecting alternately said lights in said circuit; and a second switch for closing said circuit.

l0. The combination of an optical projection apparatus; a horizontal plate in front of and above said apparatus; removable means below said plate for casting light from said apparatus onto said plate; an electric light included in said apparatus; au electric light below said means; an electric circuit; a switch for operatively connecting alternately said lights in said circuit; a second switch for closing said circuit; a platen for said plate; and means lixed to said platen for closing said latter switch when said platen is placed on said plate.

11. In a photographic machine, means for locating the image on the sensitized sheet, comprising a horizontal transparent plate; means for projecting an image on said plate; means for positioning the sensitized sheet; and releasable means for holding the positioning means iiXed `with reference to said plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS E. HALLDORSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

